Youth Leadership for Mental Health in Eastern Africa

In Eastern Africa, a new project will train young people to lead mental health campaigns and support services in their own communities. Mental health disorders are a major burden across the region, but access to treatment is extremely limited, and stigma often prevents people from seeking help. Most existing programmes are designed and run by outside organisations, not by local young people who understand the cultural barriers. This project addresses that gap by equipping aspiring mental health professionals and youth organisers in Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda with the skills, resources, and networks to build their own educational programmes, awareness campaigns, and outreach initiatives. If successful, the project could increase access to mental health services and reduce stigma in communities that currently have few options. It builds on established youth leadership models from MCW Global and the Kofi Annan Foundation, and on mental health work already underway by the Africa Alliance of YMCAs. The team also plans to produce a policy recommendation paper aimed at persuading regional institutions to prioritise mental health and provide more support to local professionals. Although initially piloted in Eastern Africa, the goal is to expand the model across all African regions within five years.